In October 2009 Rev. McNeill, then a pastor at Central Presbyterian Church at Newark (NJ) Presbytery, went to Massachusetts where she married her partner in a ceremony held at an Episcopal Church which was overseen by clergy from The Episcopal Church and the United Church of Christ.

A Presbyterian clergywoman who married her partner will soon have to go before the highest ranked Commission of Presbyterian Church (USA).

An appeal was brought before the Permanent Judicial Commission of the General Assembly of PC(USA) regarding Rev. Laurie McNeill, who married her partner back in 2009.

Filed by Whitman Brisky Esq. of Mauck & Baker, LLC in September, the case will be argued before the PJC GA on Oct. 26 in Louisville, Ky.

“This case is about a Teaching Elder, the Rev. Laurie McNeill, who deliberately chose to do what was right in her own eyes rather than stay true to the Word, the Confessions, and the Constitution of which and by which she was called to be a pastor,” reads the appeal in part.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Brisky explained that his appeal “to perfect the prosecution’s appeal of the not guilty verdict by the Presbytery PJC.”

“This is the highest level of appeal within the denomination. While it is unlikely that we will receive a ruling [Oct. 26], the GAPJC will issue a ruling before it adjourns,” said Brisky.

“Thus we should have one by Monday or Tuesday of that week. If we prevail at this level, the case will be remanded for a new trial based on the decision.”

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